Game racket

ABSTRACT

A game racket comprised of tubular metallic construction having a unique string support member extending throughout the interior of the tube and through holes provided in the surface of the inner periphery of the tubular frame in the area of the head portion of the racket. The support member is provided with a hook like configuration containing tension regulating abrasive resistant engaging members or pads to support and mount the string within the game racket such that the tension of the string can be varied and/or equalized by using various sizes of the tension regulator members within the string support extending through the tubular frame. The unique frame structure and string support structure also provides for horizontal lacing type of stringing for the racket.

Unite States atet 11 1 Lyon 1 Oct. 14, 1975 1 GAME RACKET Edwin ,1. Lyon, 18 W. 231 Standish Lane, Villa Park, 111'. 60181 22 Filed: Feb. 13,1974

21 Appl. NO.Z442,112

[76] Inventor:

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,179,435 4/1916 Hutchinson 273/73 D 1,186,283 6/1916 Coddington 273/73 H 2,456,023 12/1948 Rosenbalm 273/73 H X 2,456,023 12/1948 Rosenbalm 273/73, H 2,610,056 9/1952 Lovell 273/73 D 3,547,440 12/1970 Deer... 273/73 D 3,567,225 3/1971 Hollis 273/73 D 3,751,034 8/1973 Portz et a1. 273/73 D 3,815,660 6/1974 Gallagher et a1. 273/73 D X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 122,823 11/1946 Australia 273/73 D 1,495,578 8/1967 France 273/73 D 209,780 6/1960 Germany 273/73 D 16,414 9/1891 United Kingdom.... 273/73 D 309,238 4/1929 United Kingdom.... 273/73 D 269,955 5/1927 United Kingdom.... 273/73 D 855,902 2/1940 France 273/73 D 873,589 3/1942 France... 273/73 D 1,260,715 4/1961 France 273/73 D 28,838 12/1902 United Kingdom 273/73 D 2,647 6/1880 United Kingdom 273/73 D 1,1 13,707 5/1968 United Kingdom 273/73 D 182,366 7/1922 United Kingdom... 273/73 D 1,495,578 8/1967 France 273/73 D 8,1 12 5/1884 United Kingdom 273/73 H 269,955 5/1927 United Kingdom 273/73 D Primary ExaminerRichard J. Apley Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roger A. Schmiege 57 ABSTRACT A game racket comprised of tubular metallic construction having a unique string support member extending throughout the interior of the tube and through holes provided in the surface of the inner periphery of the tubular frame in the area of the head portion of the racket. The support member is provided with a hook like configuration containing tension regulating abrasive resistant engaging members or pads to support and mount the string within the game racket such that the tension of the string can be varied and/or equalized by using various sizes of the tension regulator members within the string support extending through the tubular frame. The unique frame structure and string support structure also provides for horizontal lacing type of stringing for the racket.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In game rackets the problem exists of providing a means for keeping proper tension on the strings of the racket. Further, it is important to provide a construction which can be manufactured inexpensively by high volume production techniques. At the same time the means for stringing the racket should be of a simple form to make it simple to string and thus provide further economy.

The present game racket is a solution to the above problems in that it is made of a simple tubular construction bent to form a head portion and a handle portion and the frame has holes pierced on the inner periphery thereof in the area of the head portion through which a unique string support member of continuous form will extend providing a hook means extending towards the center of the head portion. The hook means include tension regulator members which in turn support the strings. In this way the racket may be made of a continuously formed tubular member and has in it a continuously formed string support to which the strings can be easily assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING With reference to the drawing;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a game racket manufactured in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the string support assembly;

FIG. 3 is a section view through the string support structure; and

FIG. 4 is a side view partially in section of the string support illustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawing, more particularly FIG. I, there is shown a game racket having a head portion 12 and a handle portion 14. The racket is formed of a continuous tubular frame 16 which has holes 18 pierced on the inner diameter thereof in the area of the head portion 12. The continuously formed tube 16 is bent to form the circular head portion 12 and thus has two straight longitudinally extending portions 20 and 22 forming the handle portion 14. A grip such as leather or the like structure 24 may be secured to the handle portion 14 in any known manner. A brace 26 is provided securing the two members 20 and 22 together, the brace 26 may be welded in position. A second brace 28 is provided in the lower portion of the head portion 12 to further strengthen and support the head portion of the racket 10. The brace 28 is preferably welded in place but may be assembled in suitable apparatures which would be provided in the head portion 12 by riveting, or other known techniques.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a continuous string 30 is provided in the racket head portion which may be of an abrasive wire to provide proper frictional characteristics in connection with the game ball or other member to be hit with the racket 10.

Assembled into the hollow tubular frame in the area of the head portion 12 is a continuous string support member 32 which includes a plurality of hook means 34. The hook means 34 all extend in the same direction and as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, are adapted to re ceive tension regulating abrasive resistant engaging members or pads 40. The tension regulating members 40 may be of a slightly resilient but yet wear resistant material which can be assembled with a press fit into the hook member 34 or could be presumably secured in place by adhesive, but as will be seen when the string 30 is under tension within the racket, the tension regulating members 40 will be held in place by the string 30 itself. A cylindrical washer member or collet 42 is provided which has a rim section 44 which when assembled within the tubular frame engages the tubular frame and holds the string support member 32 properly in position with hooks 34 extending through the holes 18 provided in the frame 16.

Book members 34 have an internal semicircular cavity within which the pads 40 are received and the hook members 34 include a passage or opening 52 so that the string may pass into the area of the semicircular opening 50 into the interior of pads 40 so that the string will be supported by hook members 34.

As will be seen in FIG. 2, the string support members 32, tension regulator members or pads 40 and washer members 42 comprise a string support assembly which coacting together provide a simple and effective support for the continuous string 30 of the game racket 10. In a preferable form of the invention, the string support assembly is to be assembled into the tube 16 which will make up the racket prior to the bending of the tubular frame to its final shape as shown in FIG. 1. This can be accomplished by providing the string support 32, of a metallic construction such as aluminum, made up of a series of hooks 34 and connecting rod portion 36 assembling the washers 42 over each of the hooks, and assembling the string support 32 inside the tube member 16 until it is in position with the hooks extending through holes 18 in head portion 12. During bending of the frame to its final shape, it is important that the hook portions 34 be held in their position extending through holes 18. This can be accomplished conveniently by sealing one end of the tube and having compressed air applied at the other end of the tube of the frame 16 forcing the string support assembly into position with hooks 34 extending through the holes 18 in tubular frame 16 and then bending the frame to its desired shape. This method may be varied as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The tension regulator members 40 can be assembled into the hook members 34 before and after bending of the frame. The string then can be assembled to the head portion of the racket in engagement with each of the tension regulators or pads 40.

As an alternative to the above method of using compressed air, when the support 32 is assembled inside the tube and extending through the holes 18 string or wire may be used to hold the hooks in their position within holes 18 while the racket is being bent to its final shape.

From the above it will be apparent that the invention provides a unique game racket structure in which a horizontal lacing arrangement of the racket string can be provided and in which the racket may be strung with abrasive type of wire. The abrasive wire may be used since abrasive resistant regulator members are used in each of the string support structures. Further, the unique string support members 32 provides an economical method of attaching the string to the racket. The use of the tension regulator members 40 provides a method of simply adjusting the tension within the string 30 by using tension regulators of varying size depending upon the tension desired within the string 30.

Various features of the invention have been particularly described, however, it should be obvious to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventron.

What is claimed is:

l. A game racket comprising a continuous tubular frame formed to have a head portion and a handle portion, a series of string holes formed in only the inner periphery of said head portion, a unitary string support member mounted inside the head portion of said tubular frame, said string support having a plurality of hook means thereon wherein said hook means extend through said holes and form a string support network inwardly of said inner periphery, a separate individual engaging member provided inside each of said hook means, and a single string being supported in each of said hook means in Contact with said individual engaging members.

2. A game racket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said string is a wire having high friction characteristics.

3. A game racket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said engaging members are comprised of abrasive resistant material.

4. A game racket comprising a continuous tubular frame formed to have a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion having an inner periphery having a series of holes therein, a unitary string support member mounted inside the head portion of said tubular frame and extending through said holes, a single string mounted on said support, a plurality of hook means on said string support member, said hook means extending through said holes, an individual engaging member provided inside each of said hook means, and said single string being supported in each of said hook means in contact with said individual engaging members and a cylindrical washer assembled over each of said hook means and engaging said tubular frame to support each of said hook means in said holes in said frame. 

1. A game racket comprising a continuous tubular frame formed to have a head portion and a handle portion, a series of string holes formed in only the inner periphery of said head portion, a unitary string support member mounted inside the head portion of said tubular frame, said string support having a plurality of hook means thereon wherein said hook means extend through said holes and form a string support network inwardly of said inner periphery, a separate individual engaging member provided inside each of said hook means, and a single string being supported in each of said hook means in contact with said individual engaging members.
 2. A game racket as claimed in claim 1 wherein said string is a wire having high friction characteristics.
 3. A game racket as claimed in claim 2 wherein said engaging members are comprised of abrasive resistant material.
 4. A game racket comprising a continuous tubular frame formed to have a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion having an inner periphery having a series of holes therein, a unitary string support member mounted inside the head portion of said tubular frame and extending through said holes, a single string mounted on said support, a plurality of hook means on said string support member, said hook means extending through said holes, an individual engaging member provided inside each of said hook means, and said single string being supported in each of said hook means in contact with said individual engaging members and a cylindrical washer assembled over each of said hook means and engaging said tubular frame to support each of said hook means in said holes in said frame. 